Why do Male Nurses Complain about Scrub Color & other Inconsequential Issues?

ari3sdog · Mar 25, 2008

I have noticed some male nurses complain about the color of scrubs, candleholding, the term 'nurse' when applied to men & so on. Why are these important? The people they are caring for have cancer, heart dz, renal dz, special needs children,-the color of scrubs should be of no consequence. Some even called it 'discrimination', what a stretch! If someone is uncomfortable on how the color of scrubs or the term nurse will affect their sexual identity maybe they should be wrestlers. And then they complain some women are uncomfortable with a male L&D nurse! Do women police officers want to be called wolice & bemoan they can't wear dresses on the job? No.

Some people are very sensitive to wear certain schrubs. Because it reflects who they are. As for me, I don't mine wearing it at work if it's recommended by the facility. I know for some hospitals that if you're taking care of patients who has cancer, must wear pink shrubs. If you're working in pediatric department, you must wear colorful with cartoon characters printed schrubs.

Some people are afraid what they are going to hear from the people. If someone approaches me and say "Hey, you wear pink schrubs, is that a girl color?" My response will be "I wear pink shrubs because I take care Cancer patients and it's required by the facility. If you'd ask me I like pink, my answer is no because I like brown schrubs. Pink shrub is not a girl color. Pink tutu is the girl color"

nurseaboveboard · Mar 25, 2008

Aw, I'm feeling such fondness for all you folks! First, ya got me all fired up about that post regarding yearly evaluations, then brought my BP back down with some of these responses about scrubs. I'm still laughing about nursemike "complaining about negativity." I know I've always tried to stay out of jail, 'cause I REALLY look bad in orange.

nurseaboveboard · Mar 25, 2008

OMG, I swear this is true! I just went on the Department of Corrections site and you can actually purchase orange scrub pants and tops, just like they wear in jail, and made by the prisoners! Now before you get all excited, I'm not sure if you can get the jumpsuit!

MrChicagoRN, RN · Mar 25, 2008

I have noticed some male nurses complain about the color of scrubs, candleholding, the term 'nurse' when applied to men & so on. Why are these important? ...the color of scrubs should be of no consequence.
Some even called it 'discrimination', what a stretch! If someone is uncomfortable on how the color of scrubs or the term nurse will affect their sexual identity maybe they should be wrestlers. ...Do women police officers want to be called wolice & bemoan they can't wear dresses on the job? No.

Until about 20-30 years, female officers were called policewomen, were delegated to female oriented duties and were required to wear skirts and low heels as part of their uniform. Oh, they would also carry their firearms concealed in a shoulder bag, too.

They were limited by the institutionalized feminity and pushed to wear more gender neutral clothing that would enable them to do the same job as a man.

So, why do you dismiss the concerns of men who don't wish to be forced into institutionalized femininity just because they chose a traditionally female dominated profession?

Is it really ok to force color schemes that send the message that this is "woman's work?"

IckuRN, RN · Mar 25, 2008

Haha, I was totally confused about why anyone would give a crap about unit colors, until I saw that they actually make guys wear pink scrubs in cancer facilities! Is it a breast CA facility, last time I checked pink was not for butt cancer research.

Is your manager male, and does he wear pink scrubs too?!

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2008

Why shouldn't men, or anyone for that matter, care about colors and appearance? Is there something wrong with caring about that?

IckuRN, RN · Mar 26, 2008

Not at all! I meant, why would anyone fuss about unit colors...it's just a uniform. Most of us hate to wear white, but if you know you have to, then there's no point in crying about it. On the other hand, I don't think that units should introduce pink, using the cancer angle, knowing they have men working for them.

The topic expanded into appearance, and that I totally agree with. Dirty shoes, sloppy hair, body odor....negative!

Last thought...I think some day shiftors secretely wants to kill us sometimes...all that perfume, if the elevator got stuck, we would all die from the fumes! :nono:

The_Wonderkid · Mar 27, 2008

Uh...when a guy becomes a nurse hasn't he already crossed that Rubicon of what's traditionally masculine vs feminine? So why be bothered by what's a (conventional) feminine color? (And BTW that changes too like body piercings).

But isn't this all because of people who always want nursing to be a 'female profession'? I mean the way to change that perception and get it put across that the profession is a neutral gendered profession is to have it be 'ok' to be a nurse and be a male. Dressing men up in light pastel colors just goes on to emphasize that the profession is a female dominated industry and that men will be treated in a way which will make them look less masculine because of the field in which he works in.

The way I look at it is this. Would it be fair to say to a female business person in a male dominated environment that she must wear what is essentially a MALE suit and tie? Not a female version but a male suit. I am sure that the female rights/activists would jump all over it due to being sexist. So why is nursing one of the few professions (if not the ONLY profession) which can get away with being so pro-female to the point which is promotes this treatment as a way (in my mind) of, whether intentionally or not, deterring males from entering the field? Nursing does NOTHING to promote males to go into the workplace. Every other working environment (be it business, retail etc) ensures that females are treated equally and given the same rights as males. (well at least in the UK, not sure how it works elsewhere).

TWK

AZO49008 · Mar 28, 2008

Well, when female nurses quit wearing the ridiculous looking print tops they seem so fond of wearing, I'll quit worrying about wearing lavendar. At the hospital I work at, each unit or specialty has their own scrub color. Some people wear solids, but most of the females wear the appropriate color of scrub pants and a print top, which are often festooned with cartoon characters.

Betty Boop, Looney Tunes, those creepy little Precious Moments kids; these are but a handful of the scrub tops I've rolled my eyes at. Okay, they may be appropriate for a peds unit, but on a med/surg floor? They may be "fun" to wear, but in my estimation they look unprofessional in any setting other than a peds unit.

Once female nusrses all go to solid colors, I'll quit worryin about what those colors might be.

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Mar 28, 2008

...those creepy little Precious Moments kids

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I thought I was the only one who felt like this!

For some reason, those PM kids always make me think about "Children of the Corn". They're worse than clowns, I tell ya!

Hijack over. We return you now to your regularly scheduled thread...

CNAinNeb · Mar 30, 2008

Because appearance DOES matter. Because if I'm a man wearing lavender scrubs with Tinkerbell on them, it's going to take away from my professionalism.
I think it's a valid concern. Same deal for style of scrubs. Women's and men's bodies are different, so scrubs that are made for women (and traditionally, then have been) may not fit right on a man. We don't expect men to be ok shopping in the women's section for jeans, why would we expect the same thing for scrubs?

Scrubs are made for women!? That's a new one. I am a very average height and weight for a women- 5ft 2in, 110 lbs. and everything I find is built for a linebacker. Even if it has a pink frilly print, I have to wear a T-shirt, so my bra doesn't peek through the sleeves.

BamaORNurse · Mar 30, 2008

good morning, i have just started reading these forums today, actually i have stayed up way past my bedtime because of all the interesting threads. this uniform thread caught my eye because i have been known to wear all different colors of scrubs to work. i am a OR nurse at the largest university hospital in alabama, (if there are any of my co-workers here they will automatically know who this is). i have been a nurse for 4 years and all my time has been spent in the OR. i split my time almost 50-50 between scrubbing and circulating and i love my job and 95% of the people i work with. as for this scrub color thing, i think that some guys are sensitive to being thought of as less than masculine if they wear a pastel or light color. i wear pink scrub tops sometimes. i usually wear them when i know that i am going to be working with the chief of my department. we have a great time with it. when people ask i tell them that my wife and daughter picked them out for me. and thats true they think it looks nice and i get many nice compliments. i also wear "fun" tops as well. i have a new top that looks like cow skin, and two very nice hawaiian prints. nearly all the comments i get are positive and what i wear has no bearing on how well i do my job. just my two cents worth.